Billiards gear attracts collectors

Saturday

Mar 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The sport of billiards, as we know it, originated in the 15th Century with the ruling classes of Europe. The game quickly attracted court members and commoners alike. Billiards has long been a game that has blurred socio-economic lines. The age-old game now enjoys a revival in the world of antiques collecting.

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

The sport of billiards, as we know it, originated in the 15th Century with the ruling classes of Europe. The game quickly attracted court members and commoners alike. Billiards has long been a game that has blurred socio-economic lines. The age-old game now enjoys a revival in the world of antiques collecting.

The earliest version of our contemporary game of pool was called ground billiards. It was a game played outdoors on grass, like crochet. Over time, the game was moved indoors and played with cues on a green fabric-covered table to recall the color of the grassy lawn.

While the French kings were the first to own billiard tables, circa 1470, many of history's most famous figures played billiards. Some historic pool sharks include Mary Queen of Scots, William Shakespeare, Mozart, Napoleon, King Louis XIV, King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Gen. Lafayette, George Washington, John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, Cornelius Vanderbilt and H.G. Wells.

Today, many people are partaking in the revival of pool, collecting pool memorabilia, and decorating game rooms with vintage and antique pool tables, racks and accessories.

The strong market for period billiard tables made of maple, walnut and rosewood entices collectors to pay upwards of $25,000 and $100,000 for some fine Victorian tables.

In America, the majority of pool tables were produced by Brunswick-Balke-Collendar. In the Victorian age (circa 1837-1901), pool table designs featured solid hardwoods, inlaid ivory diamond sights, marquetry work, Roman style leaf motifs or geometric Greek key patterns borrowed from the architecture of the ancient world.

It is not uncommon for a collection of antique billiard objects, including a table, cue rack, cue sticks and handmade leather pockets to have an insurance value exceeding $125,000. Whether or not you play the game, don't disregard that really heavy pool table in your grandmothers' basement — odds are it is quite valuable.